Typically developing infants and toddlers can begin walking anytime between 9-18 months. If your child isn't walking by 14 months, very often they're just starting to walk on the later side of the usual range.
In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new developmental guidelines. According to the new guidelines, a toddler should walk unassisted by the end of 18 months. Children who don't show signs of walking or the ability to do so unassisted are considered to have a delay.
Assisted Walking: Stand behind your child, place your hands around his upper arms, and pull him up to a standing position. Gently pull one arm forward and then the other. His feet will naturally follow as he rotates his hips to step. Keep practicing walking until your baby is ready to stop.
While many children take their first steps on their own by about 12-15 months, the pace of development varies widely during the toddler years. This isn't necessarily a problem as long as other milestones in motor and language/social development are achieved.
Walking delay is also a sign of mild cerebral palsy. In most cases, a delay in walking, without delays in any other areas of an infant's development, does not cause concern. Some infants require more stimulation and encouragement to master the skill for themselves.
Muscular dystrophy/muscular issues
It is one of the most common causes of delayed walking in children and does need immediate medical attention. Muscular dystrophy usually causes weakness in the muscles. Spinal muscular atrophy is another reason for delayed walking in children.
Sometimes, a delay in walking can signify a developmental delay that requires treatment, or another medical issue could be at play. Usually, though, everything is fine, and your toddler may start toddling any day—even after showing no signs of trying just a week or so before.
At 14 months, your toddler understands many more words than she can say. Her spoken vocabulary likely consists of about three to five words, typically "Mama," "Dada," and one other simple word such as "ball" or "dog," but she learns the meanings of new words every day.
My baby is almost 12 months old and isn't standing yet. Should I be worried? If your baby isn't able to put weight on his legs and stand by the time he's a year old, or you're worried about how he's developing, talk to your doctor or health visitor . Babies develop skills differently, some more quickly than others.
Every day you watch your toddler attempt and accomplish something new, but the 15th month is one that pediatricians and developmental experts consider a "milestone" period. Most babies (around 90 percent) are walking now, and it may seem like with her first steps your baby walked right out of babyhood.
Delayed walking has also been reported in other specific developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
"Some infants will cry when walking, not because of the walking itself, but because of other factors (hungry, sleepy, diaper needs changed, injured, or another need)," Bell says. "Perhaps they cannot reach a toy, maybe they want a parent to hold them … infants do not cry based on the walking aspect." Dr.
Your child should be able to use gestures at around 12 months of age. They should also be able to babble with a greater variety or transition to saying one to two words. They may have a speech or language delay if they are unable to say simple words (“dada” or “mama”) around this age.
Language and cognitive development
At 14 months, your toddler understands many more words than she can say. Her spoken vocabulary likely consists of about three to five words, typically "Mama," "Dada," and one other simple word – such as "ball" or "dog" – but she learns the meaning of new words every day.
Her research has shown that diagnosis is possible in some children as young as 14 months and sparked the development of early intervention models that have been shown to improve outcomes for toddlers showing signs of ASD as young as one and two years old.
Many children start walking around or just after their first birthday, however, if a child is not walking by 18 months old, it is time for a more detailed assessment by a paediatrician. Parents should not panic as everything could still be normal, and it may not be an indication of any underlying health problems.
When your toddler isn't walking by 14 months. At 14 months, it's not usually a concern if your child isn't walking yet. If your child is hitting other developmental milestones within the usual timeframe, you can relax and allow your toddler to develop walking skills at their own pace.
Words learned early in one language tend to be learned early in other languages. In American English, the 10 most frequent first words, in order, are mommy, daddy, ball, bye, hi, no, dog, baby, woof woof, and banana. In Hebrew, they are mommy, yum yum, grandma, vroom, grandpa, daddy, banana, this, bye, and car.
Bigger babies tend to walk later as they need to build up more strength to get upright. Recurring ear infections can delay when a baby walks as it affects their balance. Babies with older siblings can walk earlier as they want to keep up with brothers and sisters and they make good coaches.
In short, by the time they reach school age, children who start walking later than others are just as well-coordinated and intelligent as those who were up on their feet early.